The Chester Beatty Library of Ireland (www.cbl.ie) has, among other beauties, this painting: Begum Samru's Household, c.1820, Delhi, India. This painting was made for Begum Samru, an Indian who employed and entertained large numbers of Westerners, converted to Catholicism, and had two European husbands. She was powerful and wealthy, and also, it is said, ruthless and cruel. The painting, which includes the name of each individual portrayed, incorporates both Indian and European elements. http://www.cbl.ie/cbl_image_gallery/image.asp?ID=107&Collection=&ImageNumber=T0000323 This is a ''Company School of Painting''. A reference to it can be seen in this write-up - dated Sunday, April 29, 2007 ''In the Company of Art'' at http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070429/spectrum/main1.htm Information on Begum Samru at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begum_Samru One of her portraits is here - Victoria and Albert Museum http://www.vandaprints.com/image.php?id=377782 She had a palatial house in Delhi, which faced onto Chandni Chauk. Two views (South view and North view) by Mazhar Ali Khan; from the Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe album, Medium: Ink and colours on paper, Date: 1843 http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/addorimss/s/largeimage55402.html Chandani Chowk - Then and Now (some grand photos) http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1600_1699/shahjahanabad/chandnichauk/chandnichauk.html Begum Samru's House Area as seen by the modern camera - http://www.flickr.com/photos/proxyindian/sets/72157622678935185/ Begum Samru's old home in the 1840s http://www.flickr.com/photos/proxyindian/2516368400/in/set-72157622678935185/ Begum Samru, Basilica of Our Lady of Graces (Sardhana Church), Sardhana, Meerut District, Uttar Pradesh, India http://www.flickr.com/photos/soulofindia/4558176584/ Two reviews of a book on Begum Samru [BEGAM SAMRU by JOHN LALL, ROLI BOOKS, RS 235; PAGES: 192] http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?204004 http://www.rajatchaudhuri.net/assets/ARTICLES/BOOKREVIEWS/scan-16.jpg --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar